Floor or ceiling plate.



A. J. BEATON.

` FLOOR 0R CEILING PLATIE.

APPLICATION FILED MCA. I9I5.

l ,l 85,580. Patented MaySO, 1916.

Affbrn 40 Like characters refer toV likel ALLANJ. BEATON, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

FLOOR OR `CEILING PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.V

Patented May so, ieie.

Application led December 4, 1915. Serial No. 64,991.

Floor or Ceiling Plates, of which the fol-V lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to what is known as a floor or ceiling plate, the object of the invention being to provide an article of this character which is susceptible of inexpensive and ready manufacture and which possesses maximum strength. Y Y In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one convenient form. of embodiment of the invention which I will fully set forth in the following description. I do not restrict myself to this exact disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within Vthe scope of the invention dened by the claims following said description. Y Y Y Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a floor or ceiling plate involving the invention.` Fig. 2 is an edge view of one .of the body members and the various adjuncts carriedthereby, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a like view of the other body member looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in said Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow touching` the section line. 'Fig 5 isa longitudinal section onthe line 5.-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow touching said section line. f

throughout the several views. I

The plate after the usual fashionmay and preferably does comprise two body members as 6 and 7 hingedly connected as 45 will hereinafter appear and adapted to abut to present an annular ringinclosing a .central opening which receives a pipe or other suitable part.l In Fig. 1 the members 6 and 7 are shown in full lines as'closed and by V dotted lines the body-member--6 open, so

wings.

parts The member 6 is furnished with a catchand-hinge member as 8, while the complemental'element 7 is equipped with a latchand-hinge member as 9, each of the members 8 and 9 being bowed rand fitting edgewise against itsy respectivel carrying member by which rigidity is obtained. The bodymember 6 is provided in proximity to they wall of the central opening of the plate. with depending lugs or wings 10 and 11` curved longitudinally to conform practirllhe longitudinally curved `or outwardly bowedl intermediate portion of. the catch-andcally-with the curvature of said wall.

hinge member 8 fits solidly and substantially againstthe inner surfaces of the wings or lugs 8, being 'united thereto in some suitablev manner'as by rivets 12. As shown the curvature of the bowed portion of the memberl 8 is virtually 'the same as that of the inner surfaces of the wings 10 and 11, soV that the curved portion of the member 8 can substantially fit against the The bowed portion of the member 8, therefore, practically hugs'the wings so as to preclude possibility of movement of the catch and hinge member.V Said member 8 at its rear is doubled or bent on itself to produce the hinge portion 13 which is situated approximately at right angles to the hinge portion cooperates with a practically similar hinge yportion (hereinafter described) on the member 9. It will be noticed that the hinge. portion 13 is spaced from thetop or upper surface of the segmentall body member `6,- the complemental hinge portion of the 'member 9 as will herefront end with a catchportion 14 which as shown is bent from said member 8 and is practically at right angles to the bowed portion'of said member. This catchportion V14 fits 'flatwise against., the. substantially flat part of the upper surface of the body member 6. The free or front branch of the catch portion 14fis provided with a projection 15 constituting a catch. YThe bowed or longitudinally curved intermediate part` of the member 9 fits against wings or lugs 16 and 17 on the body member 7, being as shown riveted thereto `by rivets 18. v The wings 16 and 17 are counterparts of the ybowed portion of the said member 8. This;

los y wings 10 and 11 already described, and the: 1

run-Sl intermediate part of the latch-and-hinge member 9 is associated with the wings 16 and 17 exactly like the relation between the member 8 and the wings 10 and 11. The member 9 atits rear is shown provided with a hinge portion 18 complementalto the hinge portion 18, This hinge portion 18 is at right angles or approximately so, to the intermediate bowed or body part of the member 9, being spaced from the upper surface of the body member 7. When the segmental members 6 and 7 are closed as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, the hinge portion 13 extendsacross the butt joint at the rear of said body members and overlies and fits practically flatwise upon the hinge portion 18, the two hinge portions being united in some suitable manner as by the rivet 19. rllhe member 9 is provided at its front end with a latch portion 2O substantially of angular form in plan and the top surface of which is on an inclination. This latch por-tion 20 is at an angle to the body of the -member 9. The operative part of the latch portion 20 is shown as being behind the catch 15 in full lines in Fig. 1 to maintain the closed relation of the plate. To open the plate the pwo members or sections thereof will be re atively manipulated so as to carry the latch portion 20 free of the catch 15 at which point the part 6 can be moved to the dotted line position to fit around a pipe or the like, and when so fitted the part 6 will be closed and as observed held in a closed relation by the latch portion 20 engaging the catch 15.

In the circular opening of the plate areV springs as 21 and 22. The butt of the spring Q1 is located as illustrated between the lug 1l and the bowed portion of the catch-and-hinge member 8, being held therebetween in some suitable way as by the rivet 12 which aids in securing said member 8 in position. The spring 22 is positioned at its butt between the wing or. lug 17 and the bowed part of the member 9 and is held in position by the rivet 18, one ofthose which secures said partj9 in place. |These springs themselves are common in floor or ceiling plates, and they present a lateral support for the pipeor other object encircled by the plate.

What I claim is:

1. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two segmental body members coperative to form a ring, a hinge-and-catch member connected to and 'fitting edgewise against one of the body members, and a hinge-and-latch *member connected to and litting edgewise against the other body member, the hinge portions of the*'catch-and-'hinge and latchand-hinge members being pivoted to each* other, and the latch and catch portions cooperating to maintain the members in closed position, Y

2. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two segmental body members each having a projecting winged portion, a hinge-and-catch member fitting edgewise against one of the body members and con nected withl the winged portion thereof, and a hinge-and-latch member fitting edgewise against the other body member and connected with the winged portion thereof, the hinge portions of the catchand-hinge and the latch-and-hinge members being pivoted to each other and the latch and catch portions cooperating to hold said body members in closed relation.

8. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two segmental body members adapted to approximately abut at their ends when the plate is closed, each member having a winged portion conforming substantially to the curvature of the inner side thereof, a hinge-and-catch portion fitting edgewise against one of the body members and bowed to conform to and connected with the winged portion thereof, and-a hinge-andlatch member tting edgewise against thej vand latch-and-hinge members being pivoted to each other, and the latch and catch portions coperating to hold said body members in closed position,

4i. A floor or ceiling plate comprising two segmental body members adapted approximately to abut at their ends when the plate is closed, each member having projecting wings longitudinally curved, a liinge-andcatch member fitted edgewise against one of the body members and longitudinally curvecl'between its ends to conform to and connected with the wings thereof, and a hinge-and-latch member fitted -edgewise against the other body member and longitudinally bowed between its ends to fit against the wings of said body member, the hinge portions-of the catch-and-hinge and latch-and-hinge members being pivoted to each other, andthe latch and catch portions coperating tohold said body members in closed position.

5. A Hoor or ceiling plate comprising two segmental body members adapted approximately to abut at their ends when the plate y,is closed, each member having projecting bowed between its ends to fit against the wings of said body member, the hinge portions ofthe catch-and-hinge and latch-andhinge members being pivoted to each other, i

yand the latch and catch portions coperating to hold said body members in closed position, and springs, one spring being {itted between the bowed portion of said latch-and-hinge member and a.coperating wing, and the other spring being disposed between the catch-and-hinge member and a coperating wing. i

6. A ioor or ceiling plate comprising two segmental body members substantially abutting against their ends when the plate is closed, a member connected to and fitting edgewise against one of the body members and bowed between its ends to conform to the curvature of the body member -to which it is connected and having a hinge portion at one end and a catch portion at the other,

located approximately at right angles to the bowed portion, a member connected to and ttingedgewse against the other body member and bowed between its ends and having a hinge portion approximately at right angles to the bowed portion at one end and a latch portion at the other end, the two hinge portions being pivoted to each other and the latch and catch portions cooperating to hold said body members closed.

vln testimony whereof I aliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALLAN J. BEATON. Witnesses:

O'r'ro HILTON, HEATH SUTHERLAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of :Patents Washington. D. C. 

